In the world of the internet, there are now ways in which anybody can claim to be an expert on a topic and make statements.

 

 If you have worked in the dental field, then we are positive you will have heard a couple of these coming from your patients when they walked in.

 

 If you haven't heard any, be prepared because you will hear about these at some point. 

This seems to be one of the single most common responses that you'll hear when a patient's gums are bleeding. They will typically tell you something along the lines that they have naturally sensitive gums, and this is why they bleed when they go to the dentist or when they floss.

 

Any time you encounter this, it is important to do a little more investigating into the matter. Most of it you can find out during your exam.

 

Most commonly, gums bleed due to them being inflamed from an excess buildup of plaque.  This plaque buildup is typically due to poor oral hygiene, improper brushing, and most commonly, not flossing at all.

 

Look for signs of neglecting to floss, and also look for signs of plaque build-up near the gum line. It may also have to do with the possible onset of gingivitis or other more serious threats. 

There are a couple of things to note when it comes to this.

 

The first is that everyone's teeth are different. Some people may have naturally more off-white teeth than others, and some individuals may have very bright white teeth. So, it is important not to compare the color of your own teeth necessarily to others without knowing the state or health of their teeth.

 

In the United States, there is a large pressure on having white teeth, and this has led to a large number of practices incorporating teeth whitening into their services. They also now sell affordable teeth whitening kits online, as well as in most grocery stores and pharmacies in the United States. However, it is important to remember that just because your teeth are white does not mean that they are necessarily any cleaner than before you whitened them

A feeling that many people feel when they see plaque on their teeth is to want to brush very hard to scrape it off. Depending on whether it is plaque or hard tartar on your teeth, it may not be possible to necessarily get it off from brushing, no matter how hard you do so. In cases like this, it's highly recommended to go ahead and make an appointment with your dental professional because they can also assist with the inflammation currently occurring or impending.

 

Regarding daily brushing, you don't want to brush too hard; otherwise, it may cause damage to the enamel that is helping to protect your teeth naturally. Removing this over time from rough brushing or very abrasive methods will ultimately lead to more damages for your teeth.

Such as making you more susceptible to cavities.

This is just not true. It is important to go for routine examinations so that way trouble can be spotted and managed in its infantile stages, or potentially even before it starts with preventative measures. 

 

Just like with most medical issues, it is always better to be safe rather than sorry. Oral hygiene is no different, and poor oral hygiene could lead to issues that are not just related to your teeth. Overall it is always recommended to go to annual check-ups with a dental professional to get checked out.

 

It may seem like you are spending money on something you may not necessarily need because your teeth are not in pain. We can promise you that getting a routine and extensive cleaning, as well as a check-up, will save you so much more money when they catch issues or prevent issues from arising.

So your toothbrush may still look like it is in awesome shape, but you've had it and used it for four to six months already; why should you have to replace it?

 

 There are a couple of reasons why and that's what we're going to go over. One of the main ones initially is that bacteria build themselves up on your toothbrush over time. Just how you use a rag to clean up a spill, whatever liquid that is transfers itself to the rag and off of the surface you wanted to clean. Think of toothbrushes functioning in this same way. Over enough time, that toothbrush is not considered clean anymore despite the toothpaste and washing that you conduct.

 

 The next major reason is due to the bristles being worn out over time. This doesn't mean that they have to be completely frayed and pointing in varying directions, as in some extreme cases. This can mean that the end parts that brush against your teeth may have gotten significantly more abrasive over time, resulting in it being too abrasive for your teeth where it may cause damages.

 

Remember to always rinse your toothbrush thoroughly after use, and be very careful when attempting to use chemical cleaners or heat on them. This may damage the toothbrush and make it even more detrimental to your oral hygiene.

We fall into the same problems we fell into when it comes to brushing very hard. It is possible to over brush your teeth, leading to wearing down and ultimately damaging the enamel on your teeth. This would also potentially lead to issues with your gums with the ultimate case that they might recede. 

 

Of course, it is preferable to avoid these kinds of dental abrasion, so it is highly recommended that you brush after every meal, or at a minimum of once in the morning, and then once in the evening before you go to sleep. If you find yourself having some more extreme tooth sensitivity, then it's recommended to go ahead and meet with your dental professional for a checkup to ensure that you're not running into any issues in that regard.

 

There are plenty of other myths out there that are in the dental industry. It's important to be prepared for as many of these as possible, especially if you're going to be interacting with patients on a daily basis.

 

 Some patients may feel very firmly that these myths are indeed facts, so you want to feel educated enough to be able to tell them the truth so that they can take the best care of their oral hygiene as possible.